Prep Work For Epoxy Floor Coatings

Putting on epoxy coating to concrete floor is similar to putting paint on a wall. The work is in the preparation. Choose the color and having all your tools lined up can make things go smoothly.

To bond well, epoxy requires an even semi rough clean surface. Means patching any potholes and cracks and allowing them to cure fully. You can tell if your floor already has a sealer if water beads on it.

Stripping the floor, does not clean well. Any grease or dirt will compromise the epoxy adhesion, so cleaning and etching is a step that should not be rushed. Chemical cleaners vary widely, from harsh degrease and etchers to safer but less effective organics. You can cut down on the elbow grease by renting a machine called a floor maintainer for about $40 a day.

Once the floor is clean and ready for its coating, it all comes down to timing. Choose a day to do the work when the concrete won't be damp from wet weather and when the temperature is between 50 to 80 degrees; otherwise the application can bubble and peel.

Once you mix the epoxy paint and hardener, you have about 2 hours to work with, so you'll need to plan out in advance how best to paint yourself out of the garage, starting from the back corner. The hardest part is waiting, the typical drying time averages between 12 to 24 hours. Once the whole floor is done, you still have to hold off parking the car on it for another 72 hours, but in all its worth the wait!